Window-mounted clothesline



y 10, 1956 R. GRIFFITH WINDOW-MOUNTED CLOTHESLINE,

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 'I z: I!!!) H H mm mm G w. m P U R July 10, 1956 R. GRIFFITH WINDOW-MOUNTED CLOTHEISLINEI 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 INVENTOR. RUPERT GRIFFITH y 10, 1956 R. GRIFFITH WINDOW-MOUNTED CLOTHESLINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 17, 1955 INVENTOR. RUPERT GRIFFITH I: AIIJHAZ) United States Patent WINDOW-MOUNTED CLOTHESLINE Rupert Griifith, New York, N. Y. Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,213

10 Claims. (Cl. 211-97) This invention relates to a window-mounted clothes drier or clothesline assembly and, more particularly, to a structure of this type adjustable into and out of position across a window frame, and adapted, in the firstnamed position thereof, to be swung into and out of a horizontally extending position, in which horizontal position the structure is adapted to support garments or other articles that are to be dried.

One important object of the present invention is to provide a structure as described which, when not in use, can be swung downwardly and then laterally against a building wall at one side of a window, whereby to be disposed in an out-of-the-way position where it will not detract from the appearance of the building, and further, will not be subjected to the action of the elements except, perhaps, to a minimum extent.

Another object is to so mount the structure that, when it is swung into an operative position, it will be conveniently disposed for use by a person standing at a window within the building.

Yet another object is to provide a plurality of side-byside, relatively short, pulley-mounted lines, selectively usable so as not to require that the user pull upon a single, elongated, pulley-mounted line such as is now in regular use.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the device ready for use.

Figs. 2 and 3 are front views, on a reduced scale, showing the device in successively following positions during movement to its inoperative position.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section on line 44 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a plan section on line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section on line 77 of Fig. 6.

2 tial flange of a cap 20 having a center bearing opening 22 vertically aligned with opening 18.

Fixedly secured in the bottom of cup 16 is a tubular cam element 24 engaged throughout its circumference with the inner surface of cup 16 and formed with an upper end edge 26 cut away obliquely to the axis of cup 16 to provide a cam ledge.

Journalled vertically in bearing openings 18, 22 is a short spindle 28 formed intermediate its ends with a short, radial finger 30 rigid at its outer end with a ball element 32 seating upon ledge 26. Extending through the lower end of shaft 28, which projects below cup 16, is a cotter key 34 limiting upward movement of the spindle o1 shaft.

At its upper end, the spindle is fixedly secured to an elongated, horizontally extending support arm 36 radially offset from the axis of the spindle through the medium of a short inner end portion 38 of the support arm lying in the plane of and disposed at an obtuse angle to the length of the straight, elongated main portion of the support arm. At its inner end, the inner end portion 38 of the support arm is formed with a circular enlargement 40 having a center opening receiving the upper end of spindle 28, and a pin 42 extends through aligned openings of the enlargement 40 and spindle to fixedly connect the same.

It is thus seen that arm 36 is mounted to rotate about the axis of spindle 28, between a first position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4 and also in full lines in Fig. 8, in which the support arm extends horizontally across the window frame intermediate the upper and lower ends of the frame, fully from side to side of the frame, and a second position shown in Fig. 3 and also in dotted lines in Fig. 8, in which the support arm, having been rotated through 180 from its first position, extends horizontally to one side of the window frame, in closely spaced relation to the wall of the building. When swinging to its second position, the support arm moves downwardly (see Fig. 8) into a horizontal plane slightly lower than the horizontal plane in which it is positioned when operatively disposed across the window frame. This results from the cam ledge 26, it being apparent that as arm 36 moves from its full to its dotted line position in Fig. 8, ball 32 will move through an arcuate path over 180, about the axis of spindle 28, from its full to its dotted line position, traveling downwardly upon the cam ledge during this movement.

Fig. 8 is a detail, enlarged section on line 88 of Fig. 6. I

Fig. 9 is an enlarged front elevation of the latch means of the device.

Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a vertical section on line 11-11 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 12 is a cross section on line 1212 of Fig. 11.

Mounted in a window frame 10 is the drier 12, having a bracket plate 14 lying in a vertical plane and secured fixedly by screws or the like to one side jamb of the frame. The bracket plate projects outwardly from the window frame and welded to the outer end of the plate is a vertically positioned bearing cup 16. The cup 16 opens upwardly and at its upper end has external threads engaging the internally threaded depending circumferen- The arrangement permits the arm 36 to automatically swing from its full to its dotted line positions of Fig. 8, under the weight of the remaining components of the assembly carried by the arm 36, and to be described hereinafter. When it reaches its low, inoperative position, the arm will not swing further, since the ball element 32 will now be at the lowest point of the cam ledge.

Rotatably mounted upon the straight main portion of arm 36 is an elongated support tube 44 held against movement longitudinally of arm 36 by set collars 45 secured to the arm by set screws 46 at opposite ends of the support tube.

Rigid with the opposite ends of tube 44 are disc-like collars 48 (Figs. 6 and 7) and welded to tube 44 and collars 48, and extending the full distance between the collars 48, is an inner clothesline frame bar 50 of angle iron material.

Bolted at its inner end to the midlength portion of the bar 50 is an elongated longitudinal frame bar 52, extending perpendicularly to bar 50 and bolted at its outer end to the midlength portion of an outer clothesline frame bar 54 parallel to and coextensive in length with bar 50. A clothesline frame of I-shape is thus defined by bars 50, 52, 54.

In the respective end collars 48 Openings are formed, in which are booked the inner ends of turnbuckles 56 connected at their outer ends to bracing cables 58, which are secured, in turn, at their outer ends to the OPPDsite ends of outer frame bar 54.

Spaced uniformly along the length of innerframe bar 50, are openings in which are hooked inner clothesline sheaves 60 These are aligned with outer clothesline sheaves 62 carried by outer frame bar 54, and extending between the respective inner and outer sheaves are endless clothesline members 64 on which garments or other articles to be dried may be hung.

The rotatable mounting of tube 44 adapts the I-shaped clothesline frame and the associated line members 64 o s n ing emen w h r zonta p sitions. in which said frame extends outwardly from the window as in Fig. 1 and a vertical, depending position shown in Fig. 2. To swing the clothesline frame from its vertical Po ition ts o on a Po i ion, there is p ovi ed a means nc udin an upw d y extending ey 66 ecu d o he ou e om .4 nt rme i te e end v of h outer frame bar. Attached to eye 66 is the outer end of it n rope o bl 8, ra ne in at s ends a out a shea e tta hed o. ep d ng r m. the hea er of th W ndow frame .0, nt r edi e h 01 1 site side, jarnbs of the window frame. At its inner end, the lifting cable can be given a number of turns about a cable anchor 72 secured to the sill of the window frame. ThusQone standing within the building can pull downward $99 e, ca e 6 o Swing e olo osline m upwardly to its Fig. 1 position, after which the cable 68 is secured to the cable anchor 72 to hold the clothesline frame in its horizontal, operative position.

To the, outer one of the collars 48, that is, the collar 43, remote from the bearing cup 16, there is attached one end of an inclined brace rod, the other end of which is loosely and pivotally attached to an eye 74 secured to one end of the window frame header. The brace rod is formed in a plurality of coaxial sections including an upper section 76 (Fig. 4) having an eye connected to the eye 74, and formed-at its other end with threads engaging in a turnbuckle sleeve 78. Sleeve 78 at its opposite ends has threads of opposite pitch, and pitched oppositely to the threads of section 76 are threads formed upon one end ofan intermediate brace rod section 80. Thus, sections 76, 80 are adjusted toward and away from one anothen while in coaxial alignment, by rotation of sleeye 7 8, in a selecteddirection, whereby to adjust the overall length ofthe brace rod.

At its other end, intermediate section 80 (see, Fig. is slidably engaged in one end of a tube member 82 having a: lor lgitudina l, closed slot 84 through which projects a pin 86 extending. radially from the section 80. Section 80;. is thus slidable to left and right in Fig. 5 within the tube mernberB Z, relative to a lower brace rod section fill threadedly secured to and withinthe other end of the tube memhenSZ. Section 88;, at its lower end, ishoolcecl into an opening formed in the outer collar 48.

The turnbuckle means 78 as previously; noted is for the purpose of adjusting the overall length of: the. brace rod The telescopic connection between sections 80, 88 shown inFig. 5 is for the purpose of permitting the brace rod to automatically extend itself when the support arm 36 swings. from its upper horizontal plane to its lower horizontal plane. Automatic extension of the brace rod is further desirablebecause eye 74 may not in every in stance be. vertically aligned. (and. in the illustrated example it is not vertically aligned) with the pivot axis of arm 36. defined by spindle 28. As will be apparent hereinafter, the. inclined brace rod serves no support functionwhen the device is in its operative position shown in Fig. 1, because latching means is provided for the. outer endlof arm 36 to support the arm firmly in its horizontal position, arm36 being supportedat one end in engage,- ment with the latching means and at its, other endby seating of ball element 32 upon cam ledge 26. i

The brace rod, however, assumes a supporting function for the outer end of arm 36 when arm 36 is swung outwardly against the side of the building as in Fig. 3. In this position of the parts, lug 86 moves into engagement with the upper end of said slot 84.

The latching or detent means referred to above is mounted upon the side jamb at the side of the window frame opposite that on which bearing cup 16 is mounted, and includes a vertically disposed bracket plate 90 secured by lag screws or like means to the associated side jamb. Projecting forwardly from and rigid with bracket 90 are cars 92, having vertically aligned openings in which a plunger 94 is vertically slidable. The plunger at its upper end has a button 96 depressible by a user to shift the plunger downwardly. Between cars 92 the plunger is formed with a circumferential collar 98, and held under compression between the lower car 92 and the collar 98 is a spring 100. through which the plunger extends, normally shifting the plunger upwardly to its full line position of Fig. 9.

Rigid with the plunger, immediately above collar 98, is a cylindrical enlargement 102, and as shown in Fig. 11, the arm 36 has a transverse slot 104, opening upon the inner side of arm 36 and communicating with a downwardly opening latching recess, 106 formed in arm 36 and-proportioned to receive the plug or enlargement 102.

When the; arm 36v is swung from its. Fig. 3 to its Fig. 2 position, the plunger is held in a depressed position by the user, and in thisrposition of the plunger, the plug 102 will be disposed below the arm 36, the arm 36 receiving in the slot 1Q4the, plunger stem. When the plunger stem engages against the inner end of the laterally opening slot 104, the button is released and the spring 100 shifts the plunger. upwardly, the plug 102 now entering the downwardly; opening cylindrical recess 106. This latches thea mlfi. in its horizontal, operative position.

In use of the device, it will ordinarily appear, when not supporting garments or the like, as in Fig. 3. In this posit-ion, of the parts, arm 36 is disposed substantially against theside of thebuilding to one side of the window, and; the I-shaped clothesline frame is extended downwardly from the arm against the side of the building, Tha- 9tbosi new l hu be u j ct to a ini m x nt to thetaction of; the elements, and further, will not represeng-arr undesirable;projection on the side of the building.

When. th device, is to. be used, arm 36 is manually emula e &- ;po it o. T en, he b e6 p l ega e-swine hoo ho ine r m upwardlyeto t ho zontal position shown in Fig. 1, it being understood that he uppo t: will havon v ous y e a h to the window frame in the manner shown in Fig. 9.

The cablefifi issecuredto the anchor 72 and one can now-hang garmentsor; other articles from selected endless lines 64.

When the; deyiceis. to be returned to its inoperative position, the clothesline frame is lowered, back to, its Fist. 2. ositi n no herm 3 is disengaged. o the latch or detent means by depression of the button 96 Mere depression of the button 96; releases the arm 36 for swinging movement to its inoperative position, and the weight: of; the depending clothesline frame will, due to the, cam, sutfat 26, cause the arm 36 to swing of its own accord from its full to its dotted line, positions of Fig. 8. When it reaches the dotted line position, it will slow up and ultimately halt its swinging movement, in closely spaced, parallel relation to the building wall.

While l haye illustrated and described the preferred embodiment ofmyinvention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosedtand that various changesand modifications may be. made withinthe scope of the invention as defined in theappended; claims.

HavingthHsdescribed-rnyinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United Statesv Letters'Patent l. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, Comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said clothesline frame including an elongated, open-ended support tube receiving and rotatable upon the support arm, and an open framework rigid with and lying in a plane extending radially from said support tube, the clotheslines being carried by said framework, said framework being of I- shape and including end bars between which said clotheslines extend, one of said end bars being fixedly secured to the support tube in longitudinally contacting relation therewith, said framework further including a longitudinal frame bar extending between and fixedly secured to the intermediate portions of the respective end bars.

2. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said clothesline frame including an elongated, openended support tube receiving and rotatable upon the support arm, and an open framework rigid with and lying in a plane extending radially from said support tube, the clotheslines being carried by said framework, said framework being of I-shape and including end bars between which said clotheslines extend, one of said end bars being fixedly secured to the support tube in longtiudinally contacting relation therewith, said framework further including a longitudinal frame bar extending between and fixedly secured to the intermediate portions of the respective end bars, said clothesline frame further including aligned sheaves carried by the respective end bars, the clotheslines being of endless formation and being trained about pairs of aligned sheaves of the end bars.

3. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening bearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, a depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, to effect gravitational movement of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position.

4. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening bearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, a depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, to effect gravitational movement of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position, said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned.

5. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline. frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening hearing cup adapted. to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, 21 depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the. spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, toetfect gravitational movement of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position, said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned, said first-named means including a tubular member seated in the bearing cup in concentric relation to the spindle and having a beveled upper end defining said cam surface.

6. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away fromthe window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening bearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, a depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, to effect gravitational move ment of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position, said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned, said first-named means including a tubular member seated in the bearing cup in concentric relation to the spindle and having a beveled upper end defining said cam surface, said first-named means further including a cap attachable to the upper end of said cup, the cup and cap having vertically aligned bearing openings in which the spindle is journalled.

7. A clothesline assembly. for mounting on. a, window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the. arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends. away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline. frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its. inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening bearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, a depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, to effect gravitational movement of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position, said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned, said assembly further including a brace rod'adapted at one end for connection. to the window frame and having a connection at its. other end to the support arm, said brace rod supporting the other end of the support arm in the inoperative position of the support arm.

8. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting. said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the. window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its. inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening bearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, 2. depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operativelypositioned, to effect gravitational movement of the sup.- port. arm. from. its operative. to its inoperative. position,

said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned, said assembly further including a brace rod adapted at one end for connection to the window frame and having a connection at its other end to the support arm, said brace rod supporting the other end of the support arm in the inoperative position of the support arm, the brace rod being formed of a plurality of coaxial sections, and including turnbuckle means connecting adjacent sections for adjusting the overall length of the brace rod.

9. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support ann, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening bearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, a depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the bearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, to effect gravitational movement of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position, said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned, said assembly further including a brace rod adapted at one end for connection to the window frame and having a connection at its other end to the support arm, said brace rod supporting the other end of the support arm in the inoperative position of the support arm, two at least of the brace rod sections being telescopically connected for relative sliding movement, for extending the brace arm during swinging movement of 10 the support arm from its upper to its lower horizontal plane.

10. A clothesline assembly for mounting on a window frame, comprising a horizontal support arm, means for supporting said arm upon the window frame at one end of the arm for swinging movement about a vertical axis between an operative position in which it extends across the window frame, and an inoperative position in which it extends away from the window frame at one side thereof, a clothesline frame pivotally attached to the support arm for swinging movement in a vertical plane about the support arm between an inoperative position in which the clothesline frame depends substantially vertically from the support arm, to an operative position in which the clothesline frame projects horizontally from the support arm, means to swing the clothesline frame from its inoperative to its operative position attached to said clothesline frame and adapted for connection to the window frame, a plurality of clotheslines carried by said clothesline frame, and means mountable on the window frame for latching the support arm in its operative position, said first-named means including an upwardly opening hearing cup adapted to be secured to one side of the window frame, means in the bearing cup defining a cam surface extending in an arcuate path about the pivot axis of the support arm and disposed in a plane inclined obliquely to said pivot axis, a depending spindle rigid with said end of the support arm and journalled vertically in the hearing cup, and means projecting laterally from the spindle and seating against the cam surface whereby to lower the support arm, when the same is swung from its operative to its inoperative position, into a horizontal plane below that in which the support arm is disposed when operatively positioned, to effect gravitational movement of the support arm from its operative to its inoperative position, said laterally projecting means on the spindle including a finger extending radially from the spindle and a ball element carried by the outer end of the finger and engaged in said cam surface, the cam surface cooperating with the latching means to support the support arms at both ends when the same is operatively positioned, said assembly further including a brace rod adapted at one end for connection to the window frame and having a connection at its other end to the support arm, said brace rod supporting the other end of the support arm in the inoperative position of the support arm, two at least of the brace rod sections being telescopically connected for relative sliding movement, for extending the brace arm during swinging movement of the support arm from its upper to its lower horizontal plane, the telescopic connection comprising a tube carried by one of the telescopically connected sections and formed with a longitudinal slot, the adjacent section being slidable in said tube and including a lug extending within the slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 894,560 Woerner July 28, 1908 1,261,622 Riordan Apr. 2, 1918 1,740,653 Hunneman Dec. 24, 1929 2,198,299 Woods Apr. 23, 1940 

